NEW STARS JOIN BALLER DREAM CELEBRITY POKER TOURNAMENT AT CIRCA RESORT & CASINO, APRIL 28-30
Jake Arrieta, Kenny Lofton, Rollie Fingers, Goose Gossage, Shaun King and More Join Greg Maddux to Raise Funds for Young Cancer Warriors
Single Tickets to Sunday’s Main Event Still Available
Baller Dream Foundation and downtown Las Vegas’ Circa Resort & Casino have announced the star-studded celebrity lineup for the inaugural Baller Dream Celebrity Poker Tournament, taking place April 28-30. Jake Arrieta, Roger Clemens, Tito Ortiz, Rollie Fingers, Kenny Lofton, Shaun King, Goose Gossage and more will join legendary pitcher and event host, Greg Maddux, to help raise funds for young cancer warriors.
Single tickets to Sunday’s main event can be purchased here.
The tournament will include the following celebrities, with additional names to be announced in the coming weeks:
- Host Greg Maddux, baseball
- Roger Clemens, baseball
- Tito Ortiz, mixed martial arts
- Deryk Engelland, hockey
- Jake Arrieta, baseball
- Kenny Lofton, baseball
- AJ Cole, football
- Goose Gossage, baseball
- Rollie Fingers, baseball
- Shaun King, football
- Evan Mathis, football
- Bruce Thomas, actor
- Darren Banks, hockey
- Derek Lee, baseball
- Garrett Bradbury, football
- Wally Joyner, baseball
“It is powerful to have these incredible names from the world of sports and beyond join us for the Baller Dream Celebrity Poker Tournament,” said Maddux. “We appreciate their time and effort to raise the critical funds needed to help these brave individuals, and we can’t wait to have some fun with them for an amazing cause.”
The poker tournament will feature cash prizes for first through fifth place with winnings up to $75,000 and a total purse of $150,000. Single tickets to the main event on Sunday are still available for $2,500 and include a buy in of 10,000 chips. The No Limit Texas Hold’em tournament will have a total prize pool of $150,000 for 5 winners. The tournament is limited to 100 participants.
All funds raised will stay local to Las Vegas and help Baller Dream Foundation provide community programming where cancer warriors feel supported and celebrated. The funds also will provide financial support to families experiencing a cancer diagnosis.
The weekend will include the following activities:
- Barry’s Downtown Prime Private Dining Experience – Friday, April 28: To kick off the tournament weekend, Barry’s Downtown Prime will host an invite-only event featuring a private dining experience with Executive Chef Barry S. Dakake at 6 p.m. During the evening, guests will be able to chat with celebrity players and sponsors while dining on steaks, seafood and pasta dishes.
- Kick Off Party at Stadium Swim – Saturday, April 29: The tournament’s commencement celebration will take place at Circa’s year-round, multi-tiered pool amphitheater, Stadium Swim from 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. The destination pool features six, temperature-controlled pools, a 143-foot diagonal viewing screen and dozens of cabana options. Single tickets are available for purchase for $500.
- 60th Floor Poker Tournament – Sunday, April 30: The poker tournament event will be held on Sunday, April 30 at Circa’s rooftop cocktail lounge, Legacy Club at 7 p.m. The event will include the celebrity poker tournament, silent auction, cocktail reception and stunning wraparound views of the city’s skyline.
Corporate packages range from $10,000 plus and include hotel accommodations, seats at the tournament (including buy-in), marketing packages and access to the events. To reserve seats and inquire about sponsorship packages, click here.
During the weekend, guests will have the chance to win a variety of exclusive silent auction items, including signed jerseys from Greg Maddux, Josh Smoltz and Tom Glavine; a private golf experience at TPC Summerlin with Greg Maddux; VIP access to the Genesis Open in Los Angeles; floor seats to a Madonna concert in Denver; Vegas Golden Knights loge seats; a VIP outing at a Texas Rangers game with a batting practice; vacation packages to Turks and Caicos, London and more; Circa’s Barry’s Downtown Prime and Stadium Swim experience; a tee time at the Wynn Golf Club and more. If interested in donating an item or experience, please contact [email protected].
Founded by Frank DeBlasi, the Baller Dream Foundation provides emotional and daily living support for young warriors battling cancer. They work closely with children’s hospitals across the country and offer in-hospital, volunteer-led activities to help ease the minds of warriors and support their families.
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About Circa Resort & Casino
Get ready for the time of your life at Circa Resort & Casino, an adults-only casino-resort concept in the heart of downtown Las Vegas. The AAA Four Diamond Circa pays homage to Vegas’ Golden Era through vintage design, old-school hospitality and nods to the city’s history while introducing high-tech advancements and innovative amenities. The resort features upscale rooms and suites; the world’s largest sportsbook; Stadium Swim, a year-round pool aqua theater; a two-story casino; Garage Mahal, a high-tech transportation hub; the luxe Legacy Club rooftop lounge; an expansive local art collection; 35,000 sq. ft of meetings and conventions space and more. Guests can indulge at original restaurant concepts including premium steaks and seafood at Barry’s Downtown Prime from Chef Barry S. Dakake and Make It Happen Hospitality; Pan-Asian fare at 8 East from Chef Dan Coughlin; deli classics at Saginaw’s Delicatessen from restaurateur Paul Saginaw; authentic Carolina barbecue at Project BBQ; and all-star menus at Victory Burger & Wings Co. from the founding family of American Coney Island. Visit circalasvegas.com or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @circalasvegas to stay up to date.
About Baller Dream Foundation
Baller Dream Foundation supports pediatric and young adult cancer warriors, ages 0-29, through treatment, remission, and beyond. The young people served by Baller Dream Foundation (BDF) are not called patients but instead “Ballers” Baller is a modern-day term used to describe someone incredibly resilient, courageous, and at the top of their game. Baller Dream develops lasting relationships to create an environment where kids feel supported, families feel connected, and communities feel inspired. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on donations to keep our programs running. Children and young adults battling cancer are facing tremendous adversity that begins with the initial diagnosis and often continues for years after that. Baller Dream Foundation aims to support these brave young warriors when and where they need it most. Our intention is for each family to realize they are not alone in their fight against cancer. Giving hope to children and families is our goal so families can lean on us at all stages of their journey. 84% of families with a child battling cancer will experience financial hardship. Baller Dream Foundation provides various levels of support to alleviate these stressors that families often encounter throughout their cancer journey. Through generous donations, Baller Dream Foundation also curates personalized “Dream Experiences” for qualifying recipients. These major gift experiences range from dream vacations, celebrity meet-and-greets, VIP access at sporting events, and many other once-in-a-lifetime adventures thanks to our partnerships. Baller Dream assists families experiencing extreme financial hardship due to their child’s illnesses. We help with medical expenses, clothing, utilities, and other essentials. Funds are carefully allocated after a complete evaluation of the family’s needs on a case-by-case basis. A cancer diagnosis’s social and emotional side effects can often generate feelings of isolation. Through Baller Dream’s community programming, they aim to create an environment where our ballers feel a sense of belonging and their families feel supported by the community. Ensuring the safety of these children and young adults is fundamental to the mission of Baller Dream. We rely on the expertise of our partnering children’s hospitals, child life specialists, social workers, and oncology nurses to identify the cancer warriors who are in need of a special lift.
